A look at short outings, Delmarva's start and a new top 100

I'm not sure how it is going to happen, but the Orioles need to make it happen. They need to start getting more innings from their starting pitchers. The sooner the better.

In 32 games during an 11-21 start, the Orioles' starting pitchers have thrown six innings or more just four times and have made only four quality starts. The starters' ERA is 5.54 and they have gone 5 1/3 or fewer innings 26 times, including in each of the last seven games.

It was not a good road trip for getting deep into games or for limiting pitch counts.

* Friday at Minnesota: Alex Cobb four innings, 81 pitches.
* Saturday at Minnesota: Dan Straily four innings, 89 pitches.
* Sunday at Minnesota: Dylan Bundy five innings, 94 pitches.
* Monday at Chicago White Sox: John Means five innings, 94 pitches.
* Wednesday at Chicago White Sox: David Hess 4 1/3 innings, 96 pitches.
* Wednesday at Chicago White Sox: Andrew Cashner four innings, 99 pitches.

It's pretty clear that these short outings are putting a big burden on the bullpen. A 'pen that, ironically, actually has thrown better the last few games. The bullpen ERA is 1.76 in 15 1/3 innings over the past four games. O's starters have thrown 144 2/3 innings and the bullpen has pitched 135.

Delmarva's amazing start: The Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds improved to 20-4 last night with a 1-0 win over Columbia. This is their best start in franchise history. Delmarva began play last night holding minor league baseball's best winning percentage (.826). Delmarva at one point won 10 straight games in mid-April and 12 straight games at home to begin 2019, including seven wins decided in the seventh inning or later.

It has been a pretty complete team effort for the club that is led by 33-year-old manager Kyle Moore, who was the skipper last year at short-season, Single-A Aberdeen.

In Thursday's win, right-hander Blaine Knight, lefty Matt Hammonds and righty Matt De La Rosa teamed on a four-hitter for their third shutout. Knight went six innings to improve to 3-0 with an ERA of 0.68 and 33 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings. Knight extended his scoreless streak to 22 2/3 innings, the longest for a Shorebird since Alex Wells went 36 straight scoreless innings from June 30 through July 30, 2017.

While the Shorebirds rank third in the 14-team South Atlantic League in team ERA at 2.96 through Wednesday, they also rank second in batting average and third in runs and have scored six or more 10 times. Their longest losing streak is two.

Adam Hall, who is playing both second and short, ranks fifth in the SAL in batting (.353), second in OBP (.446) and is tied for second in steals (11). He has 10 multi-hit games, including a five-hit game. Hall has made 12 starts at second base and 10 at shortstop, swapping with Cadyn Grenier.

As for the starting pitchers, they are 8-2 with a 2.50 ERA through Wednesday and have averaged 11.42 strikeouts per nine innings. The Shorebirds bullpen is 11-2 with a 3.45 ERA and 11.36 strikeouts per nine. Daniel Fajardo has a 2.04 catcher ERA and has thrown out six of 11 trying to steal on him.

Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, the Orioles' first-round pick last June (No. 11 overall) is 3-0 with an ERA of 0.54. He is scheduled to start tonight after being skipped last weekend as part of the plan to limit his season innings total. Knight is now 3-0, right-hander Ofelky Peralta is 1-0 with an 0.89 ERA and righty Gray Fenter is 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA.

Now four in the top 100: Baseball America updated its top 100 prospects list on May 1 and the Orioles, who had three on the winter list, have four players now.

Rodriguez entered at No. 92. In the summary by his name, Baseball America wrote: "While many teams have struggled to draft and develop first-round high school pitchers, the Orioles may have gone two-for-two. In addition to lefthander DL Hall at high Class A, Grayson Rodriguez has impressed in spring training and early this season, building off a strong 2018."

Rodriguez got a 70 grade for his fastball but only a 40 for his changeup. However, for this story, Rodriguez said a much-improved changeup has been a big key to his great 2019 start, one in which he has fanned 28 over 16 2/3 innings.

Hall is now the highest-rated Oriole at No. 46 (up from 48 in the winter). He gets 60 grades for his fastball, curve and changeup. Yusniel Diaz, who is hitting .225 and is on the Double-A Bowie injured list, has fallen 30 spots, from No. 32 to 62. Ryan Mountcastle, batting .324 at Triple-A Norfolk, is at No. 83, up one spot.